The nutria is an animal belonging to the mustelidae family (Mustelidae) and we can find eight different species, all of them protected due al imminent danger of extinction If you are thinking of keeping an otter as a pet or have heard that someone has one, you should know that it is totally prohibited by law and can carry substantial fines and pen alties if kept in captivity.
In this article on our site, we will talk about the way of life that this animal has in nature, why it is not correct to have an otter as a petand what to do if we come across one.
Where and how do otters live?
The European otter (Lutra lutra) used to inhabit all of Europe, from the most arctic areas to North Africa and part of Asia. Starting in the middle of the 20th century, many of their populations disappeared due to human persecution, food scarcity, the destruction of their habitat and pollution.
All otters, with the exception of the sea otter (Enhydra lutris), live in rivers, lakes, marshes, ponds or any place where there is clear water, surrounded by very dense forest vegetation. Their burrows are on the banks, taking advantage of natural cavesThey do not have a single burrow, it is known that each day they can rest in a different one, as long as it is within their territory.
They feed almost exclusively on aquatic animals, fish, crustaceans, amphibians or reptiles, although, if they do not have the above, they can get out of the water and hunt small mammals or birds. Except for the sea otter, which never leaves the ocean in its entire life.
Generally, the otter is a solitary animal, only coming together during courtship and copulation, and when the mother is with the her young until they leave. They can reproduce throughout the year, but they tend to regulate their cycles according to times of drought and the abundance of their preferred prey.
Is the otter a pet?
In countries like Japan or Argentina, there is a new "trend" that consists of having an otter as a pet. Although it may seem like a docile and manageable animal, the otter is a wild animal, which has not gone through a process of domestication, which would take hundreds of years.
People often illegally buythe animal when it is still a puppy, so it has been separated from its mother too soon. Otter cubs must be with their mother for at least 18 months, as they learn everything necessary for life from her. The fact that they are solitary animals is another reason why they should not be pets, since they would be accompanied most of the time. In addition, in a house they could not carry out all their natural behaviors, since we do not usually have rivers or lakes in our homes.
On the other hand, these animals become really aggressive when they are in heat, a condition they are in for most of their lives adult.
How to take care of an otter?
If you come across an adult otter and think it may be seriously injured or require veterinary attention, it is best to keep an eye on it from a distance while calling 112 or the agents Foresters of the region where you are. Do not try to catch it, as it could attack you and, being a mammal, transmit a multitude of infections or parasites
If, on the other hand, you find a baby that under no circumstances could survive on its own, you can place it in a cardboard box that is wide enough, introduce a blanket to protect it from the cold (if it does) and take it to a wildlife recovery center or call the forest agents.
Is it legal to keep an otter as a pet in Spain?
All otter species are listed in Appendix I of the CITES convention, this means that their capture or trade is totally prohibited, in Spain or in any other country in the world. The management of these species is only allowed for scientific reasons, for the study of populations or reintroduction into the natural environment. In addition, the otter is included in the Bern Convention, due to its imminent extinction
For this reason, and because the otter is not a domestic animal, but rather a wild one, you cannot have an otter as a pet.
